Prof Richard Weller has done some very interesting research on the Urban Sprawl going on in Perth, and presented various alternative scenarios. Some ideas were truly out of the box - and made some interesting discussion. The illustrations in his presentations were very inspiring. Richard Weller has a book due to be published, but unfortunately the publishers have the rights to the images, so we cannot show them just now. The Book can be found on UWA Press web site.

"The Western Australian capital, Perth, is the world's most isolated city, in one of the world's most precious biological regions. Already sprawled further than most major international cities, Perth is predicted to grow from 1.5 million people to 4.2 million by 2056. To meet this increase the entire city and its infrastructure needs to double in the next four decades. This will have huge consequences for the culture and ecology of the city: Perth's long term survival is at stake"

Richard Theobald is the manager at the water unit of the Department of Health (WA). Richard talked about the Key Principals of the Water unit, Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling, Legislation for Stormwater reuse and liquid waste, Standard Requirements, Risk Rankings and alternate/recycled Water Schemes. We'll post some more information on our SIAWA website when it comes to hand.

Dr Peter Helman from the Griffith University Centre for Coastal Management, Queensland, talked about his research into coastal change due to climate storms, droughts, climate variability and climate change.

"The late Prof Petter Cullen urged Australians to understand where we live and to be proud of what we have achieved, but also to recognise ‘we need to fundamentally change the way we manage Australia, not in a negative gloom and doom way, but in a positive, inspirational way.' "